KR20070113626A - Mobile communication terminal having a backlight and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal having a backlight and a method for controlling the same are provided to divide a backlight group, which supplies backlight, into plural groups and control each backlight group to be alternately radiated each other, thereby reducing power consumption according to the driving of the backlight. A backlight unit(122) is composed of plural groups having at least one backlight lamp(124,126,128). A switching unit(120) switches on/off the backlight lamp by group. A control unit controls the switching unit to switch on/off the each backlight group according to a preset backlight driving unit to radiate alternately the backlight group each other. Backlight driving information includes at least one of a number of backlight lamps included in the backlight group and a flickering period of the backlight group.

Description

Mobile communication terminal with backlight and its control method {MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL HAVING A BACKLIGHT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME}

1 is a control block diagram of a mobile communication terminal having a backlight according to the present invention;

2 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a display device of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a keypad of a mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a keypad of a mobile communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a keypad of a mobile communication terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ***

 2: control unit 4: user input unit

 6: keypad 8: timer

10: sensor unit 14: display unit

16 LCD panel 18 power supply

20, 120, 220, 320, 420: switching unit

22, 122, 222, 322, 422: backlight

24, 224, 324, 424: Group 1

26, 226, 326, 426: Group 2 228, 428: Group 3

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal having a backlight and a control method thereof.

In general, the mobile communication terminal is provided with a lighting device for displaying data or to be used even at low illumination.

Liquid crystal display device (Liquid Crystal Display, hereinafter called LCD) used as a display device of a mobile communication terminal cannot emit light by itself, so a backlight is installed on the back of the LCD panel to generate light generated from the backlight. (Liquid Crystal) Pass through the layer and color filter to display the data.

In addition, the keypad is provided with a light source such as an LED on the back of the key top on which the printing surface such as numbers or letters is formed, so that the light generated from the backlight is irradiated to the outside of the key top to display the numbers or letters printed on the keys by the backlighting effect. It allows the user to recognize it.

As such, the display device, keypad, etc. of the mobile communication terminal is provided with a backlight type lighting device to supply the illumination light.

However, since a large amount of power is required to drive such lighting devices, efforts have been made to minimize power consumption due to lighting devices in a mobile communication terminal driven by a limited capacity battery.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile communication terminal having a backlight and a control method thereof which can reduce power consumption according to the backlight driving.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal having a backlight and a control method thereof, including: a backlight unit including a plurality of groups including one or more backlight lamps; A switching unit for switching on and off the backlight lamps for each group; And a controller configured to control the switching unit to blink each of the backlight groups according to preset backlight driving information.

The backlight unit driving information may include at least one of the number of the backlight lamps included in the backlight group and a blinking period of the backlight group.

The controller may variably control the blinking period of the backlight group according to the backlight unit driving information.

Further, the backlight unit may further include a user input unit for setting the driving information.

Further includes a timer; The control unit controls the blinking period to control the blinking period of the backlight group to be reduced by controlling the blinking period of the backlight group when there is no input from the outside for a predetermined time as a result of confirmation through the timer. Mobile communication terminal having a.

And a sensor unit for detecting external illuminance; The controller may control the blinking period of the backlight group according to the external illuminance sensed by the sensor unit.

On the other hand, according to another field of the present invention, the step of classifying a plurality of backlight lamps included in the backlight unit into a plurality of groups; It may also be achieved by a control method of a mobile communication terminal having a backlight, characterized in that it comprises the step of flashing each of the backlight groups in accordance with the preset backlight unit driving information.

The backlight unit driving information may include at least one of the number of the backlight lamps included in the backlight group and a blinking period of the backlight group.

The blinking of the backlight groups and cross-emitting each other according to preset backlight unit driving information may include controlling the flashing period of the backlight group.

The method may further include receiving and storing the backlight driving information according to a user selection.

On the other hand, if there is no input from the outside for more than a predetermined time to enter a power saving mode; When entering the power saving mode, the method may further include controlling the blinking period of the backlight group to reduce the number of lit groups.

In addition, detecting the external illuminance; Checking whether the detected illuminance value is greater than or equal to the reference illuminance value; When the detected illuminance value is equal to or greater than a reference illuminance value, the method may further include controlling the blinking period of the backlight group to reduce the number of groups to be turned on.

Hereinafter, a mobile communication terminal having a backlight and a control method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a control block diagram of a mobile communication terminal having a backlight according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal includes a user input unit 4 including a keypad 6 for input, a display unit 14 including an LCD panel 16 for data display, and a power source. Supply to the backlight unit 22 from the power supply unit 18, the backlight unit 22 for supplying illumination light to components that require indirect lighting, such as the keypad 6 and the LCD panel 16; A control unit controlling the switching unit 20 interposed on a power supply line to control the power input to the backlight unit 22 and controlling the switching unit 20 to blink the backlight unit 22 according to preset driving information. It includes (2). In addition, the mobile communication terminal further includes a timer 8 for counting a power saving mode entry time and a sensor unit 10 for sensing external illumination, and the controller 2 includes a timer 8 and a sensor unit 10. The switching unit 20 is controlled such that the backlight unit 22 blinks according to the output value.

The user input unit 4 includes a keypad 6 for inputting numbers and characters, and user input means such as navigation keys, menu keys, and side keys, and outputs corresponding input signals according to a user's selection. The user input unit 4 is provided with a backlight unit 22 on the back of the keytop to ensure visibility and to enhance the ease of use in low light conditions by illuminating the illumination light of the backlight unit 22 passes through the keytop. It allows users to recognize numbers or letters printed on the page.

The display unit 14 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel 16 and receives illumination light from the backlight unit 22 provided at the rear of the LCD panel 16 to display data.

The backlight unit 22 includes a plurality of backlight lamps for supplying illumination light, and each backlight lamp receives driving power from the power supply unit 18 to supply the illumination light to the keypad 6 and the LCD panel 16. As the backlight lamp, light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) may be applied, and a plurality of backlight lamps are provided to secure sufficient illuminance. Here, the plurality of backlight lamps are divided into a plurality of groups such as the first group 24 and the second group 26 having at least one backlight lamp, and blink each group 24 and 26.

The switching unit 20 is interposed on a power line applied from the power supply unit 18 to the backlight unit 22 to switch the backlight lamps on and off for each group 24 and 26.

The control unit 2 outputs a switching control signal to the switching unit 20 such that the backlight of each group 24 and 26 flashes sequentially and flashes sequentially according to preset backlight unit 22 driving information. In this case, the driving information of the backlight unit 22 may include a flashing cycle and a light emission order of each backlight group 24 and 26. The backlight driving information may be stored in a system default value and may be set by the user by providing a predetermined menu for user setting.

The control unit 2 sets the flashing period of the backlight groups 24 and 26 to be short within the range where the user cannot visually recognize the flashing facts so that each of the backlight groups 24 and 26 emits light sequentially. In order to observe, it is recognized that the illuminance of the backlight unit 22 is kept constant. Therefore, the backlight groups 24 and 26 of the backlight unit 22 cross-illuminate each other so that only the first group 24 is turned on and the second group 26 is turned off, or the first group 24 is turned off. In addition, the second group 26 may be used in a lit state, and thus driving power may be saved as the backlight lamp is turned off.

On the other hand, when the power saving mode function is supported, the controller 2 checks whether the input through the user input unit 4 does not exist for a predetermined time or more through the timer 8 to enter the power saving mode state. In the power saving mode, the controller 2 may save driving power by increasing the number of backlight groups that are turned off by adjusting the blinking period of the backlight groups 24 and 26 of the backlight unit 22.

In addition, by using the principle that the illuminance decreases as the number of backlight groups to be extinguished increases, the control unit 2 flashes the backlight groups 24 and 26 according to the ambient illuminance sensed by the sensor unit 10. By adjusting the illuminance of the LCD panel 16 or the keypad 6 can be automatically adjusted.

Hereinafter, in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components as the above-described components for better understanding of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a display device of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As a backlight lamp for dimming the LCD panel 16, three LEDs are provided and each LED is a group. It is an example of the case where the control is set to three groups. Accordingly, LED1 may be divided into a first group 124, LED2 as a second group 126, and LED3 as a third group 128.

The backlight unit 122 dimming the LCD panel 16 includes a first group 124, a second group 126, and a third group 128 including backlight lamps LED1, LED2, and LED3, respectively. The unit 120 controls on / off of each backlight group 124, 126, and 128 including switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 corresponding to the backlight groups 124, 126, and 128. Accordingly, the controller 2 outputs a switching control signal for turning on / off each switch SW1, SW2, SW3 of the switching unit 120 according to the backlight driving information.

The controller 2 sequentially flashes the backlight groups 124, 126, and 128 so that only a predetermined number of backlight groups of all the backlight groups 124, 126, and 128 remain lit. Accordingly, one or two backlight groups of the three backlight groups 124, 126, and 128 may be controlled to be off.

Table 1 below illustrates a flashing state of the backlight lamp when the backlight unit 122 is driven.

TABLE 1

Control status LED1 LED2 LED3  First mode on on off on off on off on on  2nd mode on off off off on off off off of

As shown in Table 1, one of the backlight groups 124, 126, and 128 is turned off in the first mode, and two backlight groups are turned off in the second mode. do. Here, the larger the number of unlit backlight groups, the greater the power saving effect, but the lower the illuminance.

Therefore, the control state of the backlight unit 122 is preferably adjusted in consideration of the illuminance and the power supply state, and it is also possible to allow the user to directly select it.

In addition, the controller 2 may enter the power saving mode by determining whether to enter the power saving mode through the timer 8, and enter the second mode from the first mode, and detect the ambient illumination through the sensor unit 10. As a result, the control state of the backlight unit 122 may be automatically adjusted to the first mode in which the LCD panel 16 has a relatively high illuminance or the second mode in which the LCD panel 16 has a relatively low illuminance.

3 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a keypad of a mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and six LEDs are provided as backlight lamps for dimming the keypad 6, and two groups 224, 226) is a case of controlling by dividing.

When the six LEDs are arranged in two columns of three each, it can be divided into two groups 224 and 226 by alternately grouping each other. Accordingly, the switching unit 220 controls the backlight unit 222 to blink for each group 224 and 226, including switches SW4 and SW5 corresponding to the first group 224 and the second group 226, respectively.

The controller 2 outputs a switching control signal for turning on / off the switches SW4 and SW5 of the switching unit 220 according to the backlight driving information, so that the first group 224 and the second group 226 By causing the LEDs to cross flash, the keypad 6 is dimmed only through either group at each blink instant.

Table 2 below illustrates a flashing state of the backlight groups 224 and 226 when the backlight unit 222 of the keypad 6 is driven.

TABLE 2

1st group 2nd group on off off on

As shown in Table 2, the backlight groups 224 and 226 cross-illuminate each other, and half of all the backlight lamps are turned on and others are turned off to turn on the entire backlight lamp, whereas the backlight lamp is turned off. The power saving effect can be obtained as much as possible.

4 is a control block diagram of a backlight of a keypad of a mobile communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. When six LEDs are provided as backlight lamps for dimming the keypad 6, two groups 324 are provided. , 326).

When the six LEDs are arranged in two columns of three each, each column may be grouped in units to be divided into two groups 324 and 326. Accordingly, the switching unit 320 includes the switches SW6 and SW7 respectively corresponding to the first group 324 and the second group 326 to control the backlight lamp on / off for each column.

The control unit 2 outputs a switching control signal for turning on / off each switch SW6 or SW7 of the switching unit 320 according to the backlight driving information to output the LEDs of the first group 324 and the second group 326. By cross flashing, the keypad 6 is dimmed through either group at each blinking moment. Accordingly, the flashing operation for each group 324 and 326 may be controlled as shown in Table 2 above.

On the other hand, Figure 5 is a control block diagram of the backlight of the keypad of the mobile communication terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention, when six LEDs are provided as a backlight lamp for dimming the keypad (6), three groups An example of controlling by dividing by (424, 426, 428) is illustrated.

When six LEDs are arranged in three rows of two each, each row may be grouped into units to be divided into three groups 424, 426, and 428. Accordingly, the switching unit 420 includes the switches SW8, SW9, and SW10 corresponding to the first group 424, the second group 426, and the third group 428, respectively. 428) to control on / off.

The controller 2 may sequentially control all the backlight lamp groups 424, 426, and 428 to blink so that one or two backlight groups are turned off.

Table 3 below illustrates a flashing state of the backlight lamp groups 424, 426, and 428 when the backlight unit 422 is driven.

TABLE 3

Control status 1st group 2nd group 3rd group  First mode on on off on off on off on on  2nd mode on off off off on off off off of

As shown in Table 3, one of the backlight lamp groups 424, 426, and 428 is driven off in the first mode, and two backlight lamp groups are off in the second mode. Driven by. Here, the larger the number of groups to be off, the greater the power saving effect, but the lower the illuminance.

Accordingly, the control state of the backlight unit 422 of the keypad 6 may be appropriately adjusted in consideration of the illuminance and the power supply state, and the user directly controls the number of lighting and the cycle of the backlight lamp group 424, 426, 428. It is also possible to choose.

In addition, the controller 2 may enter the power saving mode by determining whether to enter the power saving mode through the timer 8, and enter the second mode from the first mode, and detect the ambient illumination through the sensor unit 10. As a result, the control state of the backlight unit 422 may be automatically adjusted in the first mode having a relatively high illuminance of the keypad 6 or a second mode having a relatively low illuminance of the keypad 6.

As described above, the present invention is to reduce the power consumption according to driving the backlight by dividing the backlight lamp for supplying the backlight illumination light to the mobile communication terminal into a plurality of groups and controlling each group to cross-emitting each other.

As described above, the embodiment according to the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made within the scope apparent to those skilled in the art in connection with the present invention.

As described above, the mobile communication terminal having a backlight of the present invention and a control method thereof divide a backlight lamp for supplying backlight illumination light into a plurality of groups and control each group to cross-emit light.

Accordingly, power consumption due to backlight driving can be reduced.

Claims (12)

A backlight unit including a plurality of groups including one or more backlight lamps; A switching unit for switching on and off the backlight lamps for each group; And a controller configured to control the switching unit to blink each of the backlight groups according to preset backlight driving information. The method of claim 1, And the backlight unit driving information includes at least one of the number of the backlight lamps included in the backlight group and a flashing period of the backlight group. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And a backlight period of the backlight group is variably controlled according to the backlight unit driving information. The method of claim 1, And a user input unit configured to set the backlight unit driving information. The method of claim 1, Further comprising a timer; The control unit controls the blinking period to control the blinking period of the backlight group to be reduced by controlling the blinking period of the backlight group when there is no input from the outside for a predetermined time as a result of confirmation through the timer. Mobile communication terminal having a. The method of claim 1, A sensor unit for sensing external illuminance; The control unit has a backlight, characterized in that for controlling the flashing period of the backlight group according to the external illuminance sensed by the sensor unit. Dividing the plurality of backlight lamps included in the backlight unit into a plurality of groups; And flashing each of the backlight groups and cross-emitting each other according to preset backlight unit driving information. The method of claim 7, wherein And the backlight unit driving information includes at least one of the number of the backlight lamps included in the backlight group and a flashing period of the backlight group. The method of claim 7, wherein The flashing of each of the backlight groups according to preset backlight unit driving information may cross-emit light. And controlling the flashing period of the backlight group to be variable. The method of claim 7, wherein And receiving and storing the backlight driving information according to a user's selection. The method of claim 7, wherein Entering a power saving mode when there is no input from the outside for a predetermined time; And controlling the blinking period of the backlight group to reduce the number of groups to be turned on when entering the power saving mode. The method of claim 7, wherein Sensing external illuminance; Checking whether the detected illuminance value is greater than or equal to the reference illuminance value; And if the detected illuminance value is equal to or greater than a reference illuminance value, controlling the blinking period of the backlight group to reduce the number of groups to be turned on.

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